Glass against a non-glossy cheap poster...

artisteric

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Jul 20, 2005
Posts
170
Loc
Michigan
Today while taking an order to frame a poster with a cheap black frame, I explained to the old man that i'll be using a product called framespace to keep the piece off the glass.

He laughed at me and said he's never heard of that and all his Ikea and Walmart frames have glass up against the pictures with no problem. He claimed I was trying to get more money out of him.

I told him I don't need to use the frame space if he doesn't want it. And I got the order.

My question.. Does a cheap non glossy poster need to be spaced?
 
I think you answered your own question by your description of the piece...cheap, non glossy poster. I would say no. It is what it is.

Steph
 
Beware of terms like "cheap".

Customers often buy "cheap" because they don't know the value of something better. If we tell them why a glass spacer is the Generally Accepted Practice in custom framing, he can at least make an informed decision about it.

Of course it costs more, and there is a reason why it is recommended. His lack of knowledge (OK, ignorance) about that does not diminish the reason or the price.

Even if he chooses to let this poster mildew, perhaps he has other things of greater longevity, for which he would appreciate your sharing the wisdom.

The more our customers know about framing, the more they appreciate better framing.

That said, I have done what you did. Reluctantly. Repeatedly. Recently.
faintthud.gif
 
Thanks all! You rock! Yes I told him why we use it and he just wasn't interested. Obviously he knew the poster was cheap (and I saw several of them in a local store for about $10 a piece)

So there.. framed it, done. looks good! I'm sure he'll be happy.
 
We don't sell cheap
just have some cheap customers (we all have them)
so well sell them expensive over priced discounted cheap
they really think they got a deal and come back for more
Let me make you an offer you can't under stand
 
In this industry one shouldn't use the word "cheap". "less expensive".....
is more appropriate.

But seriously, does anyone say to a customer: "let me show you something cheaper"????

I always say, "let me show you something less expensive". There is really no difference between both expressions, just the perception.
 
I ask the customer several questions before helping them to decide if they want the framespace or not. I explain newton swirls, condensation and the risk of mildew. I ask if it will hang in the bathroom or on an exterior wall. I explain about the emulsion on a photograph. I offer a mat instead. they usually feel comfortable enough to make the final decision themselves.
 
Under the counter I keep an old piece of glass taped to a clean piece of glass, that came off of a print without a spacer or mat. You can see the "ghost" image and specks of mold when you hold it up to the light. I have another one that came off a needlework, Home Sweet Home. "Growing in there", I tell them, and about the greenhouse affect. I find that showing is more effective than telling. "Eeww!", they say. Almost always works, even for the "inexpensive" stuff. Do what's best for the art, you never know what it'll be worth down the road, like Ellen said. Having said that, the customer has the final say, but with a more informed choice.
 
Conservatively, I've done this at least 5,000 times. (Framed a dry-mounted poster right against the glass.)

Okay, so "conservatively" probably isn't the right word.

I don't think anyone has ever talked me out of the dry mounting, though.
 
I get quite offended when asked for "cheap" but hope I don't show that. We go out of our way to stand out from 'cheap' competitors

You get cheap cars and expensive cars, would you walk into a BMW dealer and ask for cheap?

Would you take two cheap cars to same BMW garage and ask them to 'cut and shut' them (make them into one car)

As long as you can make this sound like a polite, reasonable question, here's a nice answer to anyone asking for 'cheap'

"Certainly sir/ma'm - how cheap would you like it to LOOK?"

What they really mean to say is "I want something for nothing" Who doesn't
 
OK let me ask you this,

I had a customer who brought in 3 movie posters signed by the actors. I'm sure they were worth a mint.
Here's the deal. They were cheap very thin paper and had been rolled very tightley. They would tear on the edge if you just looked at them.

I told her if I dry mounted them, they would lose all potitial value. The problem was that if we didn't they were going to look like crap in the frame.

The final decision was to dry mount and mat and they were beautiful. She did not care about the value loss and to be honest, I think they would be more valuable like this, rather then rolled tightly and not being able to do anything with them.

What would you have done differently?
I'm just curious,
Jennifer
 
Why is this an emotional issue? What is cheap framing? Why do you care? Could you imagine jewelers getting all emotional about what they sell? There is no doubt they love to sell the custom $50,000 tennis braclets. However they all offer the $60 rings around Valentines day.

That wasn't what this thread was about was it? Ohh a poster. Frame the thing.

Mildewing posters? I've seen it but not that often. Do yall all live in the swamp?

Jennifer, ArtCare Restore. Get it. That is unless your NOT using mats. The real question is did you press it to the glass? If so thats it. They are already ruined!

Carry on.
 
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